HARRISBURG, Pa. -- AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union turned tothe Pennsylvania Credit Union Association in helping to train itsnew business loan processor.

Nicole Elicker will soon start her new role on the creditunion's business services team. PCUA Director of Business AdviosryServices Molly Snody was a key resource, said Dallas Zulli, vicepresident of lending at AmeriChoice.

"Molly Snody is an excellent resource for information andtraining on member business loans," Zulli said. "Molly'sprofessionalism and experience enable her to provide training andeducational seminars to lending professionals of variousbackgrounds and experience levels. We knew Nicole was in goodhands."

During Elicker's one-on-one training with Snody, the twoexplored the numerous processes in member business lending and bestpractices surrounding member business lending operations andadministration.

"Molly explained everything clearly and gave me plenty ofreference materials to use once I'm back in the office. Idefinitely feel better prepared to assume my new responsibilities,"Elicker said.

Family First Federal Credit Union
Expands Its Business Services Team

OREM, Utah -- Family First Federal Credit Union has hired CindyKelly as assistant vice president of business development.

Kelly will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of thecredit union's business services department including workingclosely with fostering relationships with small businesses withinUtah County. An employee with the $172 million Family First since1986, Kelly previously worked with indirect lending and has heldbranch manager, loan officer and teller positions throughout her20-year career.

Family First serves more than 25,000 members.

Member Business Solutions
Hosts Business Lending Summit

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A number of timely issues were on the tableat Member Business Solutions' recent business lending summit.

The agenda included sessions on marketing to small businesses,deposit documentation, regulatory issues, and Small BusinessAdministration 504 lending tactics and products. George Reynolds,senior deputy commissioner for the Georgia Department of Bankingand Finance, discussed regulatory issues. Held in Duluth, Ga.,credit unions from Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida,Georgia and Mississippi attended the conference.

Formed in 2003 by Southeast Corporate CU and Georgia Central CU,Member Business Solutions' credit union partners include thoseranging in size from $5 million to more than $4 billion in assets,according to the CUSO.

Commercial Lending Activity
Mixed in the 12 Fed Districts

WASHINGTON -- Commercial real estate was slow in most of the 12Federal Reserve districts during August, according to the agency'sSeptember Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions,commonly known as the Beige Book.

The Fed's districts are Boston, New York, Philadelphia,Cleveland, Richmond, Va., Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis,Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco. Some districts reportedfurther slackening in demand for office and retail space whileothers saw an increase in energy and mining activity. Districtsreporting on the agricultural sector noted some relief from droughtconditions.

Commercial and industrial lending was near steady in New York,Philadelphia, and Cleveland and slowed in Richmond, St. Louis, andKansas City, according to the Beige Book. Demand for commercial andindustrial loans rose in Chicago, mostly from small and mid-sizefirms, and was described as solid in Dallas.

San Francisco reported that overall loan demand had fallen sincethe Fed's previous report in July. All the districts reporting onloan standards noted tightening. New York, Cleveland, Richmond, andSan Francisco reported deterioration in credit quality. Dallasindicated that credit quality was holding up, although bankers inthat district expected it to decline.

SBA's Buffalo Center
To Handle Gustav Calls

WASHINGTON -- Small Business Administration Deputy AdministratorJovita Carranza last week visited the agency's disaster assistancecustomer service center in Buffalo, N.Y., as it prepares to handlethousands of calls in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

In the days following the storm's landfall, call activity hasincreased to upward of 1,000 calls per day, according to theagency.

Carranza toured the facility, reviewed workforce operations anddiscussed training programs with center managers in preparation forthe potential increased disaster activity posed by tropical stormsHanna, Ike and Josephine brewing in the Atlantic, SBA said.

The Buffalo disaster customer service center is at the frontlineof SBA's disaster recovery operations, according to SBA. After apresidential disaster declaration is made, the center handlestelephone registration referrals from FEMA and provides customersupport via telephone and e-mail to disaster survivors as theybegin the disaster loan application process.

At the height of the Hurricane Katrina response in 2005, thecenter responded to more than 10,000 calls per day. As a result ofthe recent hiring and systems upgrades, the center now has thecapacity to handle 20,000 phone calls per day, SBA said.